DAILY STAR: Russian football thugs shun Confed Cup to prime for attacks on England fans in 2018

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British hooligan analyst Dr Geoff Pearson exclusively told Daily Star Online: “Domestic football in Russia has a quite serious problem in terms of football gang violence.

“Many of the Russian clubs have active gangs that self-identify as ‘hooligans’ and engage in violence against rival football gangs.

“Some of these fights are very organised and may take place well away from the stadia.”

Dr Pearson is a senior lecturer in criminal law at Manchester University and was present during the 1998 Marseille riots and the infamous violence at Charleroi during Euro 2000.

He added: “In the days leading up to the England v Russia match in Marseille, English fans were targeted both by local gangs and by the Russian ‘hooligans’.

“The English supporters were largely innocent bystanders who had done nothing to provoke the attacks.

“It is certainly possible that violent groups associated with Russian clubs may look to target visiting fans at the World Cup.”